How to stop avoiding certain high-Points® foods—and enjoy them instead

Weekly technique

By Weight Watchers

Last updated 8 May 2024

Ever think you’d be better off just banning pizza, ice cream, or whatever other food you can’t resist? Science says that could actually backfire. Instead, invite your kryptonite foods into your life—just map out your moves ahead of time.

Try this!

Choose one of your tricky foods, then ask yourself a few questions: WHAT is a sensible portion you can eat? Look up the Points values and plan how to fit it in your Budget. WHERE will you buy and enjoy it? Eating out can help you avoid seeing the food every time you open the fridge, but if you do have it at home, try pre-portioning smaller servings. WHEN exactly will you eat it? At the designated time, ask yourself, “Do I really want this now?” If not, reschedule. WHO will join you? Consider sharing the experience—and your plan; friends can help you stick to it. Put it all together: I’ll eat one cup of cookie dough ice cream on Friday after work at the local shop with my bff Kate.

Let’s dive a little deeper…

Quick, don’t think about your favourite food. You’re thinking about it now, right? That’s how our brains work! They also tend to become hyper-focused on foods we love when we do start thinking about ’em. So then, when people deprive themselves of those foods, they can end up craving and eating more than those who don’t.

What to try instead of swearing off a certain food? Put up guardrails. Maybe you only eat pizza at restaurants, have wings while watching a game, or pre-portion leftover desserts and stash half in the freezer. In other words, put the brainpower you would have spent trying to avoid foods into finding solutions and devising a plan for how to enjoy them and still stay on track. You’re likely to be more successful in the short term—and on your journey in the long run.